Building of foodeast–haumako underway
With groundworks completed, preparation for the construction of the foodeast-haumako secondary building, towards the rear of the site, started in mid-January in the lead up to completing the consent process.
It is being built by Hawke’s Bay Construction Company which won the competitive tender process.
Foodeast-haumako board chairman Craig Foss said work on the primary facility, fronting Elwood Rd, would start as soon as stage two consents had been issued and tender details finalised.
While the main building has been redesigned to accommodate soaring construction costs over the last 18 months, the aim of the building remains true to the original vision.
“Food and beverage production and manufacturing are key elements of Hawke's Bay's economic well-being. From its inception, the foodeast vision has been to develop a facility focused on assisting our food producers, innovators and manufacturers to expand and develop their offerings to bring new products to the domestic and international markets,” said Mr Foss.
“The type of practical help foodeast will be able to offer to achieve that is broad; for example assistance with product and market validation, sourcing seed funding via external agencies, connections to people/organisations for advice (eg business/brand/packaging), and connections to pilot production facilities, as well as providing a place for the industry to meet and collaborate. It will also connect into appropriate departments of the nation's tertiary institutions such as EIT Te Maho a Māui and Massey University.”
The foodeast-haumako board’s focus over 2023 will be on completing the construction of both buildings by the end of the year, signing key tenant(s) to ensure the facility “can wash its own face”, developing the foodeast-haumako team, and finalising the operational model.
Foodeast-haumako is owned through a partnership between Hawke’s Bay Regional Investment Company (the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s investment company), Hastings District Council, and Progressive Meats. It is being funded by Kānoa, the Government’s Regional Economic Development and Investment Unit through a Provincial Growth Fund grant of $12 million and an investment of $6m from the three regional investors.
For more information contact:
Diane Joyce – Joyce Communications
joycecomms@outlook.com
021 612270